Puppies.......

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Just interested in getting a range of views...... obviously in an ideal world, the only people who would ever get puppies would be people who were at home 24/7 365 days of the year.

We don't live in an ideal world!

So for those of you who breed - especially MurphysMinder, who is the first person to come to mind :) - what is the minimum you would consider in terms of 'exposure to owners' when selling a puppy?
 
Sorry yes reading back that isn't clear - yes, for example if an owner works, how long could a puppy be left with other dogs for company?
 
Put it this way, i have ruled out having a pup myself any time in the near future as I am out for 5 or 6 hours a day. When breeding, I didn't let pups go to anyone working full time unless they had someone who could call in several times a day in the early weeks. i just don't think its fair to leave a young pup for too long, apart from the fact that house training is very difficult if there isn't someone there to pick up the signals in the first few weeks.
Having said that, I am sure plenty of pups are left all day with just someone visiting at lunch time and are fine, it is just not something I would be happy with.
 
Glad to see other sad people are at home on a Friday night, makes me feel better. :tongue3:

Our rule of thumb is four hours max, that goes for the grown up dogs too. Fortunately, the OH's shifts mostly allow for this and we have an amazing neighbour who treats them like her own and does the 3 days a month when we coincide on work hours. We timed getting pups for the summer holidays so I'd have at least a month with them before the return to school.
 
Puppies we make sure they are not left for more than maybe an hour or so for the first month. Pen now is 5 months old and we would leave her for up to 2 hours. She is lucky, I work part time, OH is a farmer so a quiet time for him, and my mother lives next door.
I have no idea how fulkl time people can get a puppy, and would never sell one to someone that did. I could never breed anyway, I would be worried sick about the pups for the rest of their lives!
 
I wouldn't contemplate having a puppy while working full time. It's just not fair on them and also you can't house train them properly.
I have two adult dogs and go home every lunch time and walk before and after work.
I got both dogs as adults.
There are lots of young adult dogs looking for good homes that after a period of adjustment would probably be fine left for about 4 hours at a time.
No way would I leave a puppy for more two hours maximum.
 
I got Quarrie at 10 weeks, took two weeks leave and then took him to work. It was a summer I could easily see to him hourly, plus there were lots of volunteers to help. I wouldn't have done this with a younger puppy but then I'd not take one under 8 weeks anyway. So I had a very understanding line manager (I did point out that I'd never had maternity leave :p) and a comfy big van space, plus a space for a large crate under my desk. This year work commitments meant it wasn't possible, hence the older pup we got. There were no issues house training whatsoever and he never had an accident at work (his bottom did explode in the van on the way home once, he was 6 months at that point).

I do expect my adult/older dogs to cope with being left for a few hours-we can't go the cinema (for example) in less than 4 hours (and we go about twice a year) and they will have the odd day home alone. I found all the breeders I spoke to much more pragmatic than the rescue centres.
 
I was very lucky, my OH works nights and I work days so Floyd was never left. I think about the 13 week point we did start leaving him for 20 mins or so and slowly built it up. The most he has ever been left is 2 hours. Floyd would happily stay on his own all day now hes 9 months. The other one had the worst SA I have ever known in my life, so even though we resolved it, I dont like him to be left very long.

As it worked out I ended up being off for the first 3 months anyway which helped massively. We definitely couldnt have done it if we both worked days
 
I would have loved a pup but don't think its fair as I work full time and wouldn't be able to get there in my lunch break.
Mrs Spaniel was 11 months old when I took her home and unless my situation changes when I am to look for another dog then I'd look for one around the same age.
 
This is something that troubles me. Since getting Aled, I've realised how much I miss having a dog, and when he sadly goes, I will definitely want another. I'd like a puppy, but realistically it probably won't happen. Aled is very happy at home on his own, but he's 11 now, and sleeps most of the time when we are out. He never on his own for more than a couple of hours, if we know son isn't around when we are at work, he goes to my Mum around the corner. Although she can't walk him (he's too strong for her), he has her company and free range of her garden. Would that arrangement work with a pup, would a breeder be happy with it?
 
blackcob said:
I work full time but can take puppies to work with me. #1 reason for staying in an otherwise very poorly paid job!
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I don't like you any more BC :D :D :D I actually just thought 'I wonder if they'd let me take a puppy to work' before I remembered I work in a food factory..... hmmm guess that's a no then..... :p

I am 99% sure that a puppy will never be do-able for me, I am not even sure if I would want a puppy (30 YEARS since my first puppy, how did that EVER happen!!!!!) but sometimes I would love one.... :)
 
Each situation is different. Personally I wouldn't get a pup and work full time but plenty have and get dog walkers doggy day care etc. It is as important to know the new owners will have finances for a new pup as they are not cheap to keep. Vets fees, feed , toys, vaccinations, insurance no wonder so many end up in rescues.
 
The 3 we have now we have had since each was a pup, they are now 7,6 and almost 4. Our routine then and now, was me working 9am til 130pm Mon-Fri (only a 2 minute drive away) and OH works in retail so has days off in the week and works weekends, plus a couple of late nights where he doesnt go in till 11am. The longest they are ever left in 4.5 hrs and that doesnt happen very often, our neighbour has a spare key and is always around if we need her in an emergency. They are walked early morning and again evening time. I fit riding in around OHs shifts as I feel mean coming in from work and dashing straight out again. Tbh, they dont seem bothered and are very happy snoozing on the sofa, but that said, they may behave very differently if they spent too long alone, as it is, they are all very well behaved and easy dogs
 
Kaylum said:
Each situation is different. Personally I wouldn't get a pup and work full time but plenty have and get dog walkers doggy day care etc. It is as important to know the new owners will have finances for a new pup as they are not cheap to keep. Vets fees, feed , toys, vaccinations, insurance no wonder so many end up in rescues.
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Ha ha my boyfriend actually told me that I shouldn't get another one because 3 dogs were cheaper to keep than 4 :D needless to say I ignored him, I've had 4 for a few years now so I'm used to budgeting for them :)
 
my new pup has been fine to be left in his crate with my other dog here. i do the horses am and pm and cant take him as he isnt allowed out yet(6 more days!!!!!!) he is left for 2 hours am and 1 hour pm at the weekend and is also left for an hour lunchtimes during the week as i have to let out some dogs for the owners who work full time but i wouldnt like to leave him in a crate for longer. i am lucky as i am retired apart from my little dog job. it has been harder than i remember to housetrain though, but i wouldnt be without him now. couldnt you go for another rescue greyhound?
 
4 hours and I woudln't want to leave any longer - they have tiny bladders, are easily bored and need invovlement and supervision of a puppy. I wouldn't leave an unsupervised puppy with an adult either for at least the first few months it's not fair on the puppy
You either need to be prepared to pay a suitable person to come and spend significant time (two hours min I'd say in a full working day taking travelling into account) with your new addition or not get one.
 
you have done so well with your greys , were you thinking of a different breed? after losing my lurcher i couldnt bring myself to get another as in my eyes she was unique ,she was the most difficult dog i ve ever trained as she was very opinionated but i loved her more than any other dog i have had,i wanted an adult dog so i looked at rescues and couldnt find anything which suited us(me and my other dog)and could be left for short times apart from lurchers so thats why i went for a puppy who i could hopefully make into the companion both of us wanted and he is completely the opposite to my lurcher. if i wasnt retired i wouldnt have considered a puppy, and sometimes wonder why i did!!!!!
 
splashgirl45 said:
you have done so well with your greys , were you thinking of a different breed? after losing my lurcher i couldnt bring myself to get another as in my eyes she was unique ,she was the most difficult dog i ve ever trained as she was very opinionated but i loved her more than any other dog i have had,i wanted an adult dog so i looked at rescues and couldnt find anything which suited us(me and my other dog)and could be left for short times apart from lurchers so thats why i went for a puppy who i could hopefully make into the companion both of us wanted and he is completely the opposite to my lurcher. if i wasnt retired i wouldnt have considered a puppy, and sometimes wonder why i did!!!!!
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Awwww what a complete sweetie Splashgirl :) :) Love the second picture :) In all honesty I think a rescue is the way ahead for me, it will be (another) greyhound (which would be my 7th!) or a lurcher or a whippet - I just love sighthounds :)
 
i do as well but i am afraid my heart broke when i lost mine so needed a complete change, this was my special girl

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as you can see my new tiny boy is very different
 
I'm sure I'll get shot down for this but after a month of adjustment, getting used to the other animals and house training mine have been left all day. I have small dogs, I teach them to use a flap and I have a secure garden. So they have access to the outside, safe space to lie down, food, water and company of their own species. I don't see why they would need me all the time. They have all seemed happy, content, well behaved, playful and healthy - so I figure I can't be abusing them too much
 
DabDab said:
I'm sure I'll get shot down for this but after a month of adjustment, getting used to the other animals and house training mine have been left all day. I have small dogs, I teach them to use a flap and I have a secure garden. So they have access to the outside, safe space to lie down, food, water and company of their own species. I don't see why they would need me all the time. They have all seemed happy, content, well behaved, playful and healthy - so I figure I can't be abusing them too much
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I think thats fine, but would be far too paranoid to leave a dog out in a garden now. I used to, my old dog, but hear too much about theft nowadays.
 
DabDab said:
I'm sure I'll get shot down for this but after a month of adjustment, getting used to the other animals and house training mine have been left all day. I have small dogs, I teach them to use a flap and I have a secure garden. So they have access to the outside, safe space to lie down, food, water and company of their own species. I don't see why they would need me all the time. They have all seemed happy, content, well behaved, playful and healthy - so I figure I can't be abusing them too much
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I certainly won't be shooting you down :) Years ago I got a lurcher pup, I worked 9-5 and my husband at the time worked shifts so pup was left about 4 hours max with my two whippets, they also had a dog flap and were all well adjusted happy little (or in the case of the lurcher very large!) dogs :)
 
I have had pups when I worked full-time - but it was very hard work and took a lot of organising (up extremely early, coming home at lunchtime, enlisting my neighbour to let pup out mid afternoon, and then having absolutely no social life after work or weekends as all time spent on pup). The pups grew up well adjusted and well behaved individuals, but I have to admit that it did eat away at my conscience and I literally begged various bosses to allow me to bring my dog to work (to no avail). I have worked from home for the past ten years and have to say it is so much nicer for owner and pup to be able to spend so much more time together and my conscience can rest easy. If I bred a litter I would probably not sell to a full time worker unless they could prove to me beyond all doubt that they had measures in place to ensure the pup had plenty of company, stimulation, exercise etc.
 
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